COMMAS (SEVEN BASIC USES)

COMMAS (SEVEN BASIC USES)

1. Definition: a punctuation mark (,) indicating a pause between parts of a sentence or separating items in a list.

2. USE A COMMA TO SEPARATE INDEPENDENT CLAUSES.

   • Use a comma before a coordinating conjunction (and, but, yet, so, or nor, for) when it joins two complete ideas (independent clauses).
     • Examples: 1. He walked down the street, and then he turned the corner. 2. You can go shopping with me, or you can go to a movie alone.

3. USE A COMMA AFTER AN INTRODUCTORY CLAUSE OR PHRASE.

   • Use a comma after an introductory clause or phrase. A comma tells readers that the introductory clause or phrase has come to a close and that the main part of the sentence is about to begin.
     • Examples; 1. When Evan was ready to iron, his cat tripped on the cord. 2. Near a small stream at the bottom of the canyon, park rangers discovered a gold mine.

4. USE A COMMA BETWEEN ALL ITEMS IN A SERIES.

   • Use a comma to separate each item in a series; a series is a group of three or more items having the same function and form in a sentence.
     • Examples: 1. We bought apples, peaches, and bananas today. 2. Mary promised that she would be a good girl, that she would not bite her brother, and that she would not climb onto the television.

5. USE COMMAS TO SET OFF NONRESTRICTIVE CLAUSES.

   • Use commas to enclose clauses not essential to the meaning of a sentence. Both restrictive and nonrestrictive clauses may begin with a relative pronoun (such as who, whom, whose, that, which). A relative pronoun refers to the noun or pronoun that precedes it.
     • Examples: 1. Steven Strom, whose show you like, will host a party next week. 2. John, who spent the last three days fishing, is back on the job again.

6. USE A COMMA TO SET OFF APPOSITIVES.

   • An appositive is a noun or noun phrase that renames a nearby noun. Nonrestrictive appositives are set off with commas; restrictive appositives are not.
     • Examples: 1. Alexander Pope, the Restoration poet, is famous for his monologues. (appositive) 2. The poet Pope is famous for his monologues. (no appositive)

7. USE A COMMA TO INDICATE DIRECT ADDRESS.

   • When a speaker in a sentence names the person to whom he is speaking, this addressing of his audience is called direct address. Direct address is indicated by the use of a comma or commas, depending upon its placement within the sentence.
     • Examples: 1. I think, John, you’re wrong. 2. John, I think you’re wrong.

8. USE COMMAS TO SET OFF DIRECT QUOTATIONS.

   • A dialogue is a conversation between two or more people. If the speaker (not the listener) in the conversation is identified, his name, (or the noun or pronoun used to refer to the speaker), and the verb that refers to his speaking are enclosed within commas.
     • Examples: 1. Mary said, “I dislike concerts because the music is too loud.” 2. “I dislike concerts because the music is too loud,” she said.

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